Abstract
Background: Parents and guardians make important decisions regarding their children’s health care. With a vast array of healthcare therapies available, certain factors are likely to influence their decisions about which therapy to choose for their children’s presenting ailments. The factors that influence parents’ and guardians’ decisions regarding chiropractic care for their children are poorly documented in the literature. Thus, the chiropractic profession is lacking substantial evidence regarding the reasons why parents and guardians may or may not seek paediatric chiropractic. Determining these factors is important for the advancement of paediatric chiropractic, specifically in South Africa.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing parents’ decisions to choose chiropractic care for their children at two schools in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Method: This study was a cross-sectional, quantitative and explorative, and involved two primary schools in Sandton, Johannesburg. The schools sent an email containing a link to an anonymous online survey, accompanied with an information letter and consent form, to the parents and guardians of schoolchildren aged between six and 13 years, in grades 1 to 7. The survey was adapted from a questionnaire tool used in a similar study conducted in the United Kingdom. The survey was available to the parents and guardians for three to four months and several reminders were sent to ensure maximum participation.
Results: The results indicated that mothers were most responsible for their children’s health care. Factors encouraging parents and guardians to seek paediatric chiropractic care included recommendations from health professionals, friends and relatives. Discouraging factors included opinions about chiropractic as reported by the media and the cost of chiropractic treatments. Many parents and guardians considered chiropractic suitable for children, especially for the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. However, most parents and guardians did not have sufficient knowledge about chiropractic to make an informed decision about choosing it for their children.
Conclusion: This information emphasises the need to disseminate more evidence-based information about paediatric chiropractic in South Africa to the public, especially to the main decision-makers – mothers – and the main influencers – health professionals.